The Bhanga–Kuakata line is a planned railway line Bangladesh to connect Bhanga with the beach city of Kuakata in Patuakhali.[1] It is planned to build by 2030.[2] It will also connect Barisal Division to the rest of Bangladesh.[3]
| Bhanga–Kuakata line | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | |||
| Native name | ভাঙ্গা–কুয়াকাটা রেলপথ | ||
| Status | Planned | ||
| Owner | Bangladesh Railway | ||
| Locale | Bangladesh | ||
| Termini |
| ||
| Stations | 19 | ||
| Service | |||
| Type | Railway line | ||
| Operator(s) | West Zone | ||
| History | |||
| Planned opening | 2030 | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 215 km (134 mi) | ||
| Track gauge | Broad-gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) | ||
| Operating speed | 80 km/h | ||
| |||
History edit
The Padma Bridge Rail Link Project brought South and Southwestern regions of Bangladesh under the railway network.[4] In the first phase, an initiative was taken to construct a broad gauge railway spanning 172 km from Dhaka's Kamalapur to Jessore in the southwestern district.[5] On 9 October 2016, permission was given to build a railway from Faridpur's Bhanga Junction railway station to Port of Payra. Later, the project was extended from Payra to Kuakata. Construction was to start in 2022 with deadline in 2030.[2] The feasibility study proposal along with detailed design was approved by the Planning Minister on 9 October 2016. A consulting contract was signed on 19 June 2018.[6]
In 2019, a joint venture of South Korea's Doha, Spain's TIPSA and Bangladeshi consulting firm DDC was tasked with the feasibility study of the project. After the feasibility study was completed in 2021, it was revealed that 5,638 acres of land would have to be acquired for the construction of the railway.[7] It was also learned that the proposed railway might be an electrified broad gauge double line with a potential construction cost of ৳42,000 crore.[8]
On 5 April 2022, the proposal for the railway project was submitted to the Economic Relations Division to get potential investors in public–private partnership and to the Bangladesh Planning Commission to get government funds.[9] After the meeting held on 22 October 2023, the Bangladesh Planning Commission sent back its proposal advising to suspend the project for the time being considering the economic situation of the country.[10] As of 2024, Economic Relations Division has not been found no foreign investors for the project, so there is uncertainty about its implementation.[11]
References edit
- ^ "Bhanga-Payra Rail Link project: Railway asks Providus about investment process". The Business Standard. 2021-10-24. Archived from the original on 2022-12-28. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ a b Adhikary, Tuhin Shubhra (2021-06-02). "Payra rail link to cost Tk 40,000cr". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 2022-12-28. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ আলম, নাছিম উল. "ফরিদপুর-বরিশাল-পায়রা-কুয়াকাটা রেল লাইন নির্মাণ প্রকল্প সম্ভাব্যতা সমীক্ষা ও সহ ডিপিপি ফেব্রুয়ারির মধ্যে প্রস্তুত হচ্ছে". DailyInqilabOnline. Archived from the original on 2022-12-28. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ "Installation of rail tracks on Padma Bridge begins". The Business Standard. 2022-12-02. Archived from the original on 2022-12-28. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ "পদ্মা সেতুর রেল সংযোগ নির্মাণের উদ্বোধন রবিবার". Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 2022-12-28. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ "ঢাকা-বরিশাল রেল সংযোগ হবে ২০২৫ সালে". www.jugantor.com. Archived from the original on 2022-12-28. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ "টাকার অভাবে শুরু হচ্ছে না ভাঙ্গা-কুয়াকাটা রেলপথ প্রকল্প". Dhaka Post (in Bengali). 24 October 2023. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ "ঢাকা-কুয়াকাটা রেলপথ নির্মাণে ব্যয় ৪২ হাজার কোটি টাকা". Corporate Sangbad (in Bengali). 13 December 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ "ভাঙ্গা থেকে পায়রা হয়ে কুয়াকাটা পর্যন্ত রেলপথ নির্মাণের প্রকল্প গ্রহণ করা হবে : রেলপথ মন্ত্রী". Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (in Bengali). 4 March 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ Harun, Sheikh (25 October 2023). "রেলের ৪২ হাজার কোটি টাকার প্রকল্প ফেরত". Daily Kalbela (in Bengali). Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ Sadiq, Mafidul (24 February 2024). "মিলছে না বৈদেশিক ঋণ, ভাঙ্গা-কুয়াকাটা রেলপথ নির্মাণে অগ্রগতি নেই". Jago News 24 (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.